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By Sam Mediavilla, Reporter
PRESIDENT Arroyo will fly
Saturday to Singapore to attend the two-day World Economic Forum on
East Asia and go on a state visit to the island nation and the
Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
The President’s delegation will
leave Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2:55 p.m. onboard
Philippine Airlines flight PR 501.
In Singapore she will attend a
series of meetings with SICPA Holdings and Renault-Nissan. In
between the meetings, she will act as co-chairman of the WEF.
The President will also meet a
select group of international political and business leaders
attending the WEF on East Asia, a regional version of the
Swiss-based WEF, to shape the region’s industry, economic and
political agenda.
The forum will discuss forming a
new generation of East Asian multinationals, including its impact of
cross-border in investments.
The economic agenda will examine
the durability of East Asia’s growth in the face of emerging
global risks.
On the occasion of Asean’s 40th
anniversary, the political agenda will focus on the design of its
evolving regional architecture and its relationship with strategic
partners such as India, Russia and the United States.
In January last year President
Arroyo attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
where she cited the emergence of the Asean community as a formidable
bloc.
From Singapore’s Changi
International Airport, the President will proceed to Fullerton Hotel
to address major movers and shakers in the business world.
The President’s official state
visit will start on Monday with welcome ceremonies and signing of
visitor’s book at the Istana, followed by a meeting with Singapore
President S. R. Nathan.
Mrs. Arroyo’s activities will
be highlighted by her meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at
the Presidential Suite of Fullerton Hotel, and lunch with Loong at
Straits Room of the same hotel.
Later in the afternoon, after the
call of Maersk officials, the President will deliver a speech at the
coffee party of the Philippines-Singapore Business Council.
A state dinner hosted by
Singapore President S.R. Nathan at the Banquet Hall of the Istana
concludes the President’s state visit to Singapore.
On Tuesday Mrs. Arroyo will
travel from Singapore for a one-day state visit to Equatorial
Guinea.
Gen. Romeo Prestoza, chief of the
Presidential Security Group, said Mrs. Arroyo had taken tablets that
would immune her from malaria, yellow fever and hepatitis which are
common diseases in Equatorial Guinea.
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